Part 6: to Bakersfield, California HOME! (Friday, Aug. 12)

Finally, the last day of our nearly 5000km drive (4800km, then if you count coming to LA for the weekend, it's a good solid 5000km) arrived. I suggested getting the hell out of Baker ASAP and eating breakfast in Barstow, which is a real city. We ran out of gas (well, diesel actually) not 10 miles from Barstow and had to put a couple bucks worth at some place that had a Mobil with diesel right before Yermo. I like the name Yermo, it's fun to say. We had a delicious buffet breakfast at the flying J in Barstow, fueled up the car, and began the last 3 hr trek to Bakersfield. At Mojave my bladder was about to explode and the hills were alive with scads of windmills. While I took a pee break, mom took photos.
Suddenly we were in Bakersfield, home! We found the apartment with little difficulty, met the manager who had been so helpful in organizing everything long distance, she's great! Signed the lease, and "moved in". Well, I moved in the stuff that was in my car anyway... not much. Kiki defended his new territory from some grey furry cat, and although he was furry with all claws and Kiki is naked with no claws, all it took was some weird warning meows from Kiki on my front step for grey kitty, who has been master of this apartment complex for 7 years, to step down. It was pretty funny to watch. Things are nearly settled, I should get a social security number Monday or Tuesday, then I can get a bank account, then I can pay the movers, then I can get my stuff...